The Terminals kind of seemed like one of those bands where circumstance has a lot to do with their existence. If it weren’t for the fact that singer-guitarist, Liz Hitt had just left The Thielgoods, and Keyboardist Dave Goldberg had just left one of Omaha’s more high-profile bands, The Carcinogents, they probably wouldn’t be playing together. In the past, drummer Brooks Hitt had played in The Manics, but hadn’t been in a band in a while, and John Ziegler had just kicked a nasty heroin habit and was also recovering from a touch of the clap. OK, that last part about John didn’t really happen, but it sounded pretty rock & roll, huh? Anyhow, anyone who knew the members of this band individually knew that they were of a pretty similar mindset musically. Each of their bands, were all pretty garagey, punky, with maybe a little cowpunk thrown in where The Zyklon Bees were concerned, so it’s not really any surprise that they ended up playing together.

SCS: First off, is it "The Terminals" or just "Terminals"?

Liz: uhhhnn. Yes.



SCS: Obviously the fact that some of you happened to be available at the same time had something to do with the start of the band, but what else, besides that and your common love of sloppy garage rock, was the impetus to start The Terminals? How did you guys all end up together?

Johnny: Liz and I met at the Ramones vs. Clash thing, and then she asked if I wanted to play sometime, and we did some stuff with Courtney Nore, like the Christmas show that nobody came to. Mr. Hitt effectively kicked Courtney out of the band, threatening her with a shotgun loaded with rock salt. When Mr. Goldberg, formerly of the Carsinogents, which had been my favorite band from Lincoln and Omaha, joined the band after a guarantee of $3,000 by the end of his first month in the band, I was awed and humbled. I am now the band's "rock'n'roll robot" according to Mrs. Hitt.

Liz: Johnny and I met at that KB's show and I basically told him that he would IMMEDIATELY start a band with me. He was nice enough to comply. Courtney Fuck (that's her proper last name, Johnny,) was originally playing drums for John and I, but Brooks was so pissed off I'd started a band without him he came home a few nights later with a drum kit and just sort of took over. Dave came to one of our practices a while later and slipped in almost unnoticed. And speaking of Dave's guarantee: It didn't cover any interviews, so we were unable to get him or his agent to comment for star city scene. Sorry.

Brooks: I hate the term garage rock. It's more like rock n roll. That's all it's ever been you know, but now all the indie rockers think garage rock is cool so we are trying to collect some cool bills off of it.

SCS: Oh Yeah, I remember that Clash Vs. Ramones...MY BAND WON AND YOURS DIDN'T! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH. So, how would you describe your non-winning band or your sound to someone who’s never heard or seen you?

Johnny: We are fairly confident that we are the most powerful band to come to Lincoln, forever.

Liz: I'd just say Rock and Roll, but that means different things to different people today. We play music loosely based on 50s and 60s three-chord frat rock, but a lot louder and a lot faster. You know, Rock and Roll.

SCS: How would you describe a Terminals show? -- If people come to see you live, what can they expect?

Brooks: Its a drinking contest.

Johnny: Some say we sound "evil," others have said "real rock'n'roll", and others still have said we payed Mr. Goldberg to join, which isn't true. We simply guaranteed a prepayment.

Liz: We're really loud. Annoyingly so. You may want earplugs. But we don't recommend them.

SCS: What types of music and which musicians/groups influenced the band members??

Johnny: I came from a punk and roots background. Social Distortion, rockabilly, Gun Club, Cash, etc.

Liz: the Gories. the Sonics. Shithook. the Oblivians. Listening to too many 60s compilation albums. Dave Robel's 1950s/60s record collection.

SCS: Where did the band's name come from?

Johnny: Mr. Goldberg, which increased the guarantee.

Brooks: Dave came to us one day and said that if we adapted his idea for a name we would always play for sold out crowds.....but turns out he's a liar.

Liz: It was actually the seventh tough sounding "T"-word that Dave came up with. We were so tired of not being able to agree on a name, we just kept it. I still think "the Tea-Bags" would have been cool. ...or the Tight-Fits ... or the Truants... But nothing will EVER beat "Liz Hitt and the Bitch-Slaps".

SCS: Are you all writing songs for this band? How does that work in this band? Do you work separately and bring songs to the group, or do you work on stuff together?

Johnny: We all do.

Liz: Yeah, everyone has written something... some more than others (ie. I can't write for shit). Usually someone has a lick or a cool line and we'll just build around it. Sometimes, if we're lucky someone has the whole thing mapped and it doesn't take a month to iron it out. We all argue about how many measures such and such should go; "I think four is too many," "no, it's not enough," "I think the whole bridge sucks," blah blah blah.

Brooks: I play drums and avoid lawsuits from the Berg.

SCS: What was your most memorable show and what made it that?

Johnny: The 906 in Omaha. There was art, hippies, beer, wine, cheese, deli trays, and a really motley crowd. There were cars covered in pennies and computer chips.

Liz: Scenefest this year; we were almost audible for, I think, the first time, and getting to show our stuff off for Charlie Burton and the D.L.M was exciting; I'm into what Burton has done over the years. Those guys get what we're doing and appreciate it. Maybe next year Scenefest can have cheese and snack trays?

Brooks: the 49'r where I couldn't hit the drums to save my life. I played someone else's drum kit and couldn't keep a beat.

Liz: Keep it? You couldn't even find it.

SCS: OK, now lets dish the dirt! Liz, did you find being in The Thielgoods too restraining? The difference in your performance style from one band to the other is pretty big, were you held back there?

Liz: (Cough. Thielgoods). It's not that it was or wasn't restraining - I was just always unbelievably fucking nervous ! I hadn't played guitar in years, and with Jillian's songs you actually had to hit the right notes and shit ! THE PRESSURE ! She makes music, I make noise; our styles just aren't compatible onstage. We still get together and play sometimes though. Her songs are amazing.

SCS: I had heard that The Carcinogents ended because basically no one in the band, besides you, wanted to keep doing it. Was that the case, and did you feel that the band, which was one of the showier bands on the Nebraska scene kind of ended with a whimper, not a bang?

Liz: (Cough. Carsinogents)

Brooks: Dave was ready to quit. They were math rockers.

SCS: John, The Zyklon Bees on kind of on hiatus now due to the departure of your guitarist and bassist. What’s in the future for the ZeeBees?

Brooks: Eventually they will become the Zyklon Bee with Johnny flying from coast to coast playing with pick up bands. He is the Bo Diddley of the new century.

Johnny: I will tell you what's in the future. The Zyklon Bees will clean up their act and become even more powerful than the Terminals.

SCS: I understand that it’s the boys in the band who pick out Liz’s wardrobe for playing shows, is her fashion sense really that bad?

Johnny: Impeccably bad.

Liz: Hey, Dave only tells me what shoes to wear.

Brooks: I like her naked.

SCS: What do you like and dislike about the music scene in Lincoln?

Johnny: I like specials at the bars. And I enjoy the company of a good portion of the locals. However, it is to my great displeasure that several of their bands continue to resist the onward march of the Terminals. If I told you my true dislikes, I think KRNU would be somewhere near the top. Whoa, though... don't get my wrong. I LOVE to always hear songs void of any fire, tunefulness, or 4/4 drumbeats.

Liz: I dislike that nobody goes to shows. It's always the same 30 people I like those 30 people a lot (well, 24 of them anyway,) but what's wrong with the other 199,970 people in town? Are they Baptists? Are they not allowed to dance and listen to rock and roll?

Brooks: I love the Lincoln music scene. Everyone is as big an asshole as me. I feel at home.

SCS: Have you learned anything in your experiences in this band or any of your bands that you feel newer local bands could learn from, or made any mistakes they should avoid?

Johnny: I would encourage political kindness. Also, if you're a new band out there, don't take no for an answer from anybody! Go into Knickerbockers and Duffy's and demand at least a $400 guarantee. If they don't agree, do not play as a form of punishment to the owners of these venues. Pay other bands to talk about you. And rip down fliers of competing shows. Advertise at the capital, too. We need more briefcases at the shows.

Brooks: Yeah we should have a sound man guarantee; a guarantee that the sound man should make no more than the bands. After all what does he do but make everyone sound bad.

Liz: Don't play a bar that doesn't give you a drink special. On the other hand, don't take advantage of the free-beer-all-night policy, either. You're the only person who will enjoy your show. And Tip, otherwise you look like an asshole. I found all these things out the hard way, trust me.

SCS: Who are some local bands or musicians that you admire or feel should be recognized?

Johnny: Well... I hear those boys of Rent Money Big need a lot of money after their foolish and poorly funded national tour. I think the lesson for new bands here is to avoid the troubles of touring. The Mezcal Brothers, The Bad Sects, more. Bear Eats Fish. And Thinkmule posters are outstanding.

Brooks: ritual device, mousetrap, sideshow, mercy rule... I must be old..

Liz: Shithook is the most under-appreciated band in town. They're not just karaoke, you know. They're really great. We're gonna be them in about 25 years. 13 County is a great band, too. I don't even like the Replacements and I like them ! The Hornrimjobs are hysterical - there is nothing more entertaining. The Street Urchins are perfect. But I'm biased. Now, the Zylon Bees, I don't know about them. They play alright music, but their name is really offensive.

SCS: I heard they were neo-nazis! Who’s your favorite local band to play with?

Johnny: The Zyklon Bees.

Brooks: Anybody that will have us.

Liz: Shit, I'm always too drunk to pay attention. I'll tell you what though, playing with Ladyfinger really pissed me off because they were louder, faster AND more audible than we were. FUCK THOSE GUYS.

SCS: Is there a CD in the works, if so, when can we expect to see it?

Brooks: Our music isn't worthy of digital audio, we are thinkin 8-track and maybe if we do well enough a 45. That way we will guarantee no more the 20 copies sold.

Liz: Yeah it'll be a collectors item and worth like, a million dollars someday.

Johnny: My advice to bands is to avoid the troubles of the studio and focus on the live show, as long as their guarantees are met.

Liz: Shut up, Johnny. We're recording in September with Phil Shoemaker, but it'll probably just be an EP. Hopefully putting it out on SPEED, if they'll still have us.

SCS: If you could tour with any band in history, who would be your dream band to tour with?

Johnny: Science Ninja Team.

Liz: The Oblivians. I could get drunk with them for an entire "tour", yeah.

Brooks: Elvis. He really knew how to blow money. And I always wanted to learn karate.

SCS: Who was the first person or band you saw that made you want to play music?

Johnny: My first guitar mentor.

Brooks: Johnny, you know it was Goldberg.

Liz: Too early to recall who made me want to play music. But the Ramones made me want to play rock and roll.

SCS: What was the first album/CD you bought?

Brooks: motley crue "s/t"

Liz: Faith No More's first album with Mike Patton.

SCS: The most recent?

Johnny: The Firefighters, and Jerry Lee Louis, some hits comp or something.

Liz: Charlie Burton and Rock Therapy, actually. They're HUGE in Japan.

Brooks: Some $1 gospel records from Layola's in Omaha.

SCS: Whose music are you listening to right now? -- What other bands would you recommend people check out?

Brooks: The Little Killers from nyc.

Johnny: The Reigning Sound, the Milkshakes, Link Wray, The Collins Kids, The Soledad Brothers, Blacktop.

Liz: I'm going to pimp these bands cuz they're all probably coming through sometime before the New Year; I'm hoping Andy will book them: Ask me and I will get you a FREE FUCKING MIXED CD !
the Black Lips - the kid can puke at will - gross! and awesome!
the Functional Blackouts - Chicago punk
M.O.T.O. - Chicago - Easiest thing I've ever listened to
the Spits - Seattle - they were here once - we need them back!
the Seeds - fantastic 60s rock/psyche

SCS: Yeah, The Seeds kick ass! What are your top five albums of all time.

Brooks:
In no particular order, jerry lee lewis "live at the starclub", the dirty's "you should be sinnin'", the sonics "boom", ramones "leave home", and any "back from the grave" vols. 1-8.

Johnny: No!

SCS: Nobody cares what you like anyway, dork. How 'bout you, Lyzyrd Skyzyrd?

Liz: